Dogs Trust has said that it was “delighted” to hear the Welsh rural affairs minister Elin Jones announce measures to help combat the trade in “battery farmed” dogs.

Dogs Trust has announced that it was “delighted” to hear the Welsh rural affairs minister Elin Jones announce measures to help combat the trade in “battery farmed” dogs.

In her keynote speech at the “Delivering Pet Welfare In Wales” conference in Cardiff (November 11) the minister revealed a much needed review of the licensing and regulation of dog breeding in Wales.

“Puppy farming” is something Dogs Trust has been lobbying against for many years and has called for urgent measures to bring under control the number of establishments operating without a license. Not only do many unlicensed premises have substandard levels of animal welfare, but they are often responsible for fuelling the appalling trade in battery farmed dogs.

Dogs Trust prefers to use the term “battery farmed dogs” rather than “puppy farms” as this better conveys to members of the public the terrible conditions that some dogs are kept in.

The trust also welcomed the minister’s decision to consider making microchipping compulsory. This step, it believes, will undoubtedly help enforcement agencies to track unscrupulous breeders as well as significantly reducing the number of stray and abandoned dogs in Wales.

The trust’s 2009 Stray Dog Survey revealed a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of stray dogs that are being handled by Welsh Local Authorities so it is evident that urgent steps are required to encourage dog owners to take responsibility for their pets.

The charity is urging DEFRA to follow the example of the Welsh Assembly Government and making the commitment to review the licensing and regulation of dog breeding in England as soon as possible.

The Kennel Club (KC) has also welcomed the announcement, as it has been calling on the Welsh Assembly to review existing dog breeding and licensing legislation.

KC communications director Caroline Kisko said: “We are very concerned that there are a number of breeders with poor standards of care, both licensed and unlicensed, who are getting away with putting profits in their pockets above the health and welfare of their dogs.

“The Kennel Club has nothing but praise for the Welsh Assembly Government’s pledge to ban electric shock collars in Wales – we have led the campaign on banning electric shock collars and have lobbied the Assembly extensively.

“We hope that Assembly Members and the Welsh Assembly Government will work with the Kennel Club and others to take an equally robust stand in relation to puppy farms and poor breeding practice.”